As a seasoned canine proprietor, I’ve had the privilege of welcoming two Dachshund puppies into my life – Summit and now, the most recent addition, Otter.
The primary week with a brand new furry member of the family may be each exhilarating and difficult, however with the proper strategy, it can be an extremely rewarding expertise.
I’m sharing my private journey with my most up-to-date pet Otter, the teachings I’ve realized, and the information I’ve gathered in hopes of constructing your individual Dachshund pet’s transition a clean one.
Word: This weblog publish was edited from this video transcript, however it offers extra data and embellishments.
Navigating the Airport and Flight with a Pet
Bringing Otter house from Kansas Metropolis to our house in Washington state concerned a flight, which gave me slightly nervousness.
He was sufficiently small to journey in an accepted airline canine service beneath the seat, however I wasn’t positive how his newly-formed ears would deal with it and if he would bark and howl.
Otter proved to be a real champ all through the journey although.
Regardless of a one-hour flight delay, which posed a possible potty coaching problem, Otter managed to carry his bladder and bowels your complete time, not making a single mess in his crate.
I used to be impressed by his calm demeanor, as he solely fussed slightly through the touchdown, possible because of the air strain adjustments.
I’ve flown with two of my different canine earlier than and realized that my fears have been unfounded – they actually impressed me – however, nonetheless, I get a bit nervous each time I fly with a brand new canine.
Using these suggestions for flying with a canine actually helped.
Introducing My Pet to My Pack
One of many greatest worries individuals appear to have is introducing their pet to the established pets in the home.
In my case, since I dogsit and my Dachshunds are used to accepting a rotating forged of characters, I took a extra relaxed strategy.
If a canine has been an solely canine for years and is used to being the focus, introductions may be extra delicate.
In each instances, in my expertise, I believe it’s greatest to only convey the pet into the home and not using a massive fuss.
The distinction can be how intently you could supervise the older canine and the pet, in addition to how lengthy it could take your established pets to simply accept her or him.
As an alternative of the normal impartial territory introduction, I merely introduced Otter into our house and let the canine sniff and get acquainted at their very own tempo.
Brodie, one of many canine sitting shoppers who was with us and was going to be for an additional few weeks, took on the function of Otter’s playful companion.
Brodie’s light nature and Otter’s eagerness to discover resulted in a budding friendship that warmed my coronary heart.
Nonetheless, not all the pack members have been as welcoming. Gretel, my 14-year-old senior Dachshund, maintained a impartial stance, tolerating Otter’s occasional makes an attempt at cuddling however gently correcting him when he was too pushy.
Summit, my five-year-old, moody Dachshund was a bit more difficult.
There have been a number of resource-guarding incidents the place she snapped at Otter over meals.
That is an space we’re actively engaged on, as I try to make sure a harmonious and secure atmosphere for all my furry relations.
Word: Otter has been with us for five months now and all the canine know their place and get alongside nicely.
Potty Coaching and Early Coaching Efforts
Potty coaching is all the time a high precedence for me when welcoming a brand new pet, and Otter has been doing remarkably nicely.
As a work-from-home canine mother, I used to be in a position to take him out continuously, and strictly comply with my confirmed potty coaching protocol.
He shortly realized to go potty outdoors.
The one hiccup we encountered was a single incident the place Otter refused to go outdoors after which instantly relieved himself indoors.
It simply served as a reminder for me that consistency and endurance are key relating to potty coaching.
I didn’t get mad at him, simply calmly cleaned up the mess with a paper towel (no cleaner at first), and positioned it outdoors so he may scent himself the subsequent time we went out.
5 Suggestions for a Easy Pet Transition
Primarily based on my experiences with two puppies – Summit and now Otter – I’ve compiled 5 important suggestions to assist make the primary week with a brand new Dachshund pet a hit:
1) Think about Your Pet’s Sleeping Preparations
The choice of whether or not to permit your Dachshund pet to sleep in your mattress from the beginning or to crate prepare them can have a big impression on their attachment and separation nervousness.
Whereas I selected to have each puppies to sleep with me from day one, that might not be the perfect strategy for everybody.
When you suppose you might have considered trying your pet to finally sleep in a crate, it’s essential to begin crate coaching early to keep away from difficulties down the road.
The truth is, Otter’s breeder instructed me to have Otter sleep in his crate at evening for the primary 6 months.
I questioned this and she or he stated I may do what I needed, however she suggests this so {that a} canine first learns to sleep alone in a crate in case you ever want them to do it once more after permitting them into your mattress.
Evidently, I didn’t hear. However trying again, it in all probability was a very good tip.
Summit will go sleep in her crate on her personal typically, and I admit it’s good to have a canine that’s okay sleeping away from me.
I can really feel extra snug if she must be in a crate if she suffers a again damage and has to undergo a crate relaxation interval.
2) Begin Educating Your Pet to Be Alone Proper Away
Puppies are tremendous cute. They’re infants that rely upon us and may be very unsettled as a result of they’ve simply left their mother and the one phrase that they knew.
Nonetheless, there’s a stability between offering consolation and stability and coddling to the purpose your pet develops hyper-attachment.
I instantly began educating Otter that he wouldn’t die if I wasn’t proper there.
I primarily did this by placing him in his pen/crate with a pure chew, lick mat, or meals allotting toy to maintain him busy whereas I took a bathe or washed some dishes.
I attempted to come back again earlier than he was completed and began to fuss.
In the course of the first week, that didn’t give me a lot time away, however I plan to increase that period of time as he feels safer.
3) Don’t Attempt for Perfection
Elevating a pet is a studying expertise, and it’s essential to be type to your self. Resist the urge to attempt to do the whole lot completely from the beginning.
In the course of the first week (and even the primary 3 months), I made a decision to deal with the necessities like educating Otter his identify, potty coaching, socialization and confidence constructing, and bonding with him.
A canine can study obedience and methods at any age, however if you happen to miss the vital socialization and bonding window, you’ll have to work at the very least twice as laborious to realize it later…. And you could by no means get to the place you may have been if you happen to had began from day 1.
When it’s time to begin engaged on obedience, the primary issues I’ll train him are sit, in your mat (place), go away it, and are available to me after I name.
4) Set up a Routine
You’re in all probability heard this recommendation again and again for a Dachshund pet – it’s essential to set up a routine instantly as a result of canine like predictability.
Whereas I’ve typically agreed with this perception, one thing about it didn’t sit fairly proper with me. Particularly as a result of our life is something however routine, but my canine have been thriving.
The truth is, I believe my Dachshunds are calmer and deal with change higher exactly as a result of I don’t comply with a routine.
However then it hit me – I believe it’s attainable to have routine even in a life that’s chaotic and all the time altering.
To me, I like to consider routine as a unfastened schedule. Some degree of predictability is important. And boy, there are specific issues my Dachshunds positive received’t let me overlook!
Two issues that I think about a predictable routine are:
- The weenies eat twice a day, typically round 7:30 am and 4:30 pm.
- The canine all the time sleep with me (or an individual), it doesn’t matter what time that’s or the place we occur to be.
I additionally think about “routine” to be a trigger and impact conduct… after I do A, I would like my canine to do B.
I do business from home, so an instance of this is able to be that after I sit at my desk, it doesn’t matter what time of day that it’s, I would like the canine to settle and maybe fall asleep.
To me, establishing a routine is extra about setting expectations and attempting to remain as in keeping with these as attainable, moderately than having a structured time schedule for the whole lot (though if that’s your jam, that’s okay too).
5) Train Your Pet to Settle
As soon as, after I was lamenting that I couldn’t get any work carried out with my pet Summit in the home, a canine coach in my mastermind group provided this recommendation:
“One of the crucial essential jobs as a pet proprietor is to show your canine the routine of the home. Most significantly, you could train them when it’s time to play and be energetic, and when it’s time to settle or entertain themselves (with one thing secure).”
A lightbulb went off in my head. What?? I really try this? This idea was an absolute game-changer for me.
Educating my puppies to settle has allowed me to keep up my very own productiveness whereas nonetheless offering him with the eye and care he wants.
My older canine already knew this routine, however Otter was having a tough time catching on, even when Summit snarked at him for disrupting her magnificence sleep.
I put Otter’s crate close to my desk and closed him inside with a pure chew after I sat in my chair and he began to catch on fairly shortly.
Last Ideas
Welcoming a brand new Dachshund pet into your life is a very particular expertise, however it’s additionally a big enterprise.
By studying from my very own journey and implementing the following tips, I’m assured you can navigate the primary week together with your new furry good friend with higher ease and confidence.
Keep in mind, each pet is exclusive, and the bottom line is to be adaptable, affected person, and prepared to study alongside your new companion.
Take pleasure in this particular time, and take a look at different articles on my weblog for extra suggestions.
